Mariam Warrad

By Meredith Knight

Mariam Warrad can’t remember a time she didn’t love doing hair. “Everyone let me do their hair when I was a girl,” she said. “I thought I was amazing but had no idea what I was doing.” As soon as she was old enough though, she went to school and landed a job at a salon where she worked for 14 years before realizing the dream of her own salon she named La Moda.

“I just love being around people,” Mariam said. “I love what I do. To me it isn’t work. It’s fun! I’m lucky to have a husband, Mohd, who encourages me. When I was ready to open my own salon, he said, ‘Go for it!’ When I wanted to expand during the pandemic, again, he told me to go for it. It makes such a difference having him in my life believing in me.”

La Moda has emmerged as a premier salon in The Woodlands known for their hair extensions and color correction. “We’re not just about making our clients look amazing with the best color, style, and products, but also give them a relaxing experience that feeds their soul,” Mariam said. “The girls who work here are young and they keep me young. It’s such a fun place that some of our clients come in just to hang out. I love that everyone wants to be here.”

Over the years, Mariam has continuously won awards for best hair extensions and best salon in The Woodlands. She’s always eager to learn about new techniques and new products. “That’s one thing I enjoy about this industry,” she said. “There’s always something new to learn, and I encourage the girls to keep learning and expanding the services we can offer.”

Being the mother of a grown son and daughter, Mariam says it’s hard to find time to get the whole family together these days. “My husband owns his own business, too, which we’re preparing our son, Ra’ed, to take over,” she said. “Our daughter, Yasmene, is in medical school, so we all have super busy schedules. But when we do find time to get together, we all four love to cook — and eat! We love to play board games and just be together.”

One blessing Mariam has really enjoyed is helping women who’ve lost their hair due to chemotherapy. “It’s very detailed work,” she said. “It can be exhausting but it’s a labor of love. I know if I had cancer, I’d want someone to help me feel better about my appearance.”

“I couldn’t do anything I do without my amazing team,” Mariam said. “Angela Rodriguez has been my right hand since 2013. Yesenia Rodriguez, Gabriella Guerra, and Stacy Syring are amazing, and the clients love them. You girls are what makes La Moda Salon all it is, and I wouldn’t want to do it without you.”